Hear back from Shogofa Alizada about her collaboration with Environmental Youth Alliance. Shogofa’s project was focused on providing land-based educational programs for BIPOC youth in Vancouver and the Downtown Eastside. Shogofa was a recipient of the Centre for Community Engaged Learning’s Chapman and Innovation Grants in the 2022-23 school year. You can find her full report here.
Applications for CCEL Grants are open until Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more about our grant funding here.
Could you please tell us what your project is about?
My project’s focus was on Indigenous Food Systems and Community-based Land Stewardship. I collaborated with the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA), an organization that serves equity-deserving communities, such as by providing land-based educational programs for BIPOC youth in Vancouver and the Downtown East Side. Over the summer, my project served six youth with the hope of bridging knowledge and access gaps towards land-based learning. The project involved organizing and running seven themed workshops and a field trip, all led by Indigenous knowledge-keepers and community groups.
What motivated you to apply for a CCEL Grant?
My project was driven by a passion to foster a sense of community among youth, while out on the land. I wanted to create a space where youth could connect, and learn from and alongside one another about environmental stewardship and sustainable food systems. I had the privilege of growing up on a farm and later got to work with various communities in the lower mainland on land stewardship initiatives. Through these experiences, I grew to appreciate the transformative learning power that caring for land and the communities they serve, can have. I wanted to share that phenomenon and passion to a wider community, and when I came across the CCEL grant, I thought it would be a great opportunity to apply my interest in both environmental stewardship and community engagement through a funded project.
Can you share a bit about how the experience working on your grant project has contributed to your personal development?
Well, for one, the responsibility of managing a large sum of funds helped me overcome the apprehension that came with it, but really, this project provided a chance for me to enhance my budgeting skills. In my case, the EYA was primarily behind the budget’s creation, but working closely with them provided me with insights into the nuances of budgeting and financial management. Additionally, being the grant recipient required a proactive approach and leadership across various aspects of the project—from the initial application process until the delivery phase. Getting to work on the project from start to finish helped me improve my ability to navigate complex projects with foresight, which I have found to come in handy in my academic and personal life.
What have you learned or found interesting/surprising about your experience working on this project?
What stood out to me about this project was collaborating with the youth participants. Each individual brought their own unique gifts and energy to the group which elevated the overall learning experience for everyone. Seeing their personal growth and the community-building that took place was affirming of the impact that a collaborative environment can make. Additionally, the opportunity to learn from Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers who led workshops about native plants and food systems was an enriching experience. These sessions went beyond traditional learning by incorporating hands-on learning elements, such as cedar weaving and crafting herbal medicine and Indigenous foods. I personally found the experiential aspects to foster a sense of collaboration and community among the youth, making the learning process much more engaging and rewarding.
What advice do you have for students thinking of applying for a CCEL Grant?
If you are considering working on a project that you are passionate about, the CCEL grant is a great resource to look into to bring your vision to life. Don’t hesitate to apply if the fear of not having enough experience and knowledge is holding you back. I found the folks at CCEL (shout out to Jacquie and Sydney) as well as my community partner incredibly helpful and encouraging throughout the whole process. If at any point you ever need support, reach out to the folks at CCEL; they are there to guide and support you.